Shigeru Miyamoto States There Are "A Few" Zelda Titles In Development, Aiming To Evolve The Series

There's little doubt that, among Nintendo's various big-name franchises, The Legend of Zelda is currently one of the most discussed and prominent at the moment. The Legend of Zelda for Wii U was shown for the first time at E3 this year, while Hyrule Warriors is getting closer to its release — add the brilliant 3DS title The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds following its December 2013 arrival, and the series has been at the forefront in recent times.

Following that recent footage of the new Wii U title, a shareholder at Nintendo's recent AGM Q & A asked when we'll learn more about that game — naturally Shigeru Miyamoto revealed little, though did explain that there are a few projects in development. The confirmed Wii U titles brings us two, and Miyamoto-san did expand to say that ideas are currently in the works for the next 3DS game; overall, the focus is on moving the series forward and evolving its structure and gameplay.

“Hyrule Warriors,” a tie-up with another company’s “Dynasty Warriors” series that we have shown at E3, is more or less an action game in which you cut down enemies, and it received very positive reviews at E3 for enabling players to choose from a variety of characters and for offering exhilarating action.

In addition, we have already announced that we are now developing the next title for the orthodox “The Legend of Zelda” series for Wii U, and that it will be an “open world,” as announced at E3. I prefer not to use the generally used term “open world” when developing software, but we used this term in order to make it easier for consumers to understand. This term means that there is a large world in which players can do numerous things daily. In the traditional “The Legend of Zelda” series, the player would play one dungeon at a time. For example, if there are eight dungeons, at the fourth dungeon, some players may think, “I’m already halfway through the game,” while other players may think, “I still have half of the game to play.” We are trying to gradually break down such mechanism and develop a game style in which you can enjoy “The Legend of Zelda” freely in a vast world, whenever you find the time to do so.

At the halfway point to achieving this goal, we released “The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds” for Nintendo 3DS last year. We created the games in the traditional “The Legend of Zelda” series in steps that players could easily understand and follow; the player would obtain a new item in each dungeon, use the item to clear that dungeon and be able to enjoy applying the items in different ways after acquiring about eight items. However, in “The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds,” we broke that down and let the player rent different items from the beginning, so the player could use different combinations of items. In this way, we are gradually changing the structure of “The Legend of Zelda” series, and we are preparing to newly evolve the series for Wii U. In addition to that, we have ideas for Nintendo 3DS which we have not announced yet, so I hope you will look forward to them.

There's plenty for Zelda fans to be excited about, in any case, so let us know what you think of Miyamoto-san's comments and what you'd like to see in the Wii U game, in addition to the next entry on 3DS.

Welsh ex-pat Tom is responsible for the day-to-day running of the site. He's the guy to thank for the generally brilliant nature of the content which massages your eyeballs on a daily basis. Also has an unhealthy obsession with all things Bowser.

I hope Nintendo decide to properly remake some Zeldas for the Wii U. I would love to play 3D, motion controlled remakes of Link to the Past, OoT and MM. Obviously I would prefer new ones but there's almost no way Nintendo will give us 2 new Zeldas on the Wii U

@Azooooz nothing...the only thing, that's different in MM is the time limit and that's its biggest flaw imo. Well..maybe 1 or 2 of the side quests, but that's it. I think Majora's Mask has to be my least favourite Zelda game, tho so maybe someone else should tell you what's so "awesome" about it

As for 'Link between Worlds', the rent system would have worked if the prices were higher or it was harder to collect rupees.In all, I just wished ' Link between World' would have been harder from the start, or at least an option for an 'Hero Mode'

@Nintendo_NinjaI was trying to use reverse psychology just in case the poor Wii U sales cause Nintendo to hold back on Wii U game development. They've normally given us at least 2 per home console but Wii U so I am hoping that WWHD doesn't count as one of them!

@Azooooz It's not my favourite or no.1 remake choice but these are my guesses as to why people want it:1. Because it's hip to have played one of the less popular Zeldas2. It's the opposite of later Zeldas like Skyward Sword (i.e. it has loads of side quests and the world feels alive rather than just being a large map)3. It's the last time a Zelda game was difficult.

When I read the heading for this article, I was really hoping that there was to be other unannounced Zelda games in the pipeline. Am happy that there is to be another 3DS title and I get that it's a lot easier to create games for than the Wii U, but was still hoping that there was more to come on the home system.

@sinalefa
I agree. Most players I speak with say "Mario is for kids. Zelda is for hardcore gamers". I guess Nintendo is trying to woo hard core gamers. I mean, look at LoZ reveal reactions from gamers compared to Mario reveals.

@Azooooz it's been a fan favourite for a long time and didn't get the proper remake treatment yet that Ocarina of Time got. It's more or less that people expect it now. So, your question, what's so great? To me it was that it was very puzzle/mini quest heavy. The three day function works really well with creating lots of content in small areas. I absolute loved that. It's a very strange Zelda story though, so that alone turns some people off. I haven't played it since N64 so I'm hoping for a remake too. My first thoughts on the game then were that gameplay wise it's better than Ocarina, but the world and story were not as compelling. All in all, a great game in its own right.

One cannot have too much Zelda, as long as it upholds the quality expected drom the IP. My Zelda collection is nearly complete (all the games CIB mint, many limited editions, all the special consoles, still looking for some statues and merchandise), so keep it going! Oh, and give the rest of the world the Hyrule Warriors chest with clock too, please.

Surely Majora's Mask 3D is among these Zelda games, and for those who always whine about remakes, there would still be another new Zelda game to placate them. I think this is good news, but I hope they don't milk Zelda. Great series, don't get me wrong, but I kind of want other game series to get the spotlight as well.

Didn't Nintendo say that about Pokemon Y and X too? I am pretty sure they said they were evolving the game. Well I sold my Y because they ruined Pokemon by making it to easy I was LV 70 when I attempted to beat the E4. I beat it in 30 hours where as a normal Pokemon game lasts 40. I don't train I did though catch a few boxes of Pokemon. If Nintendo goes and ruins Zelda like they did Pokemon I am selling my Wii U and 2DS.

@Nintendo_Ninja there was quite a lot of exploration, puzzles, and combat in zelda 2. You sure you've played that game?

@biglittlejake considering how unimaginably terrible the AI is in all pokemon the only thing they ever did to make the story mode of pokemon "difficult" was by sheer utter force of level differences. You can recreate that easily in x and y by just catching some level 40 pokemon and battling the e4. Also most of the reason for people being so underleveled in other pokemon games was a result of skipping a lot of side content.

If you go to places like the battle maison, or go competitive online then it gets hard. Pokemon game have always been story equals easy mode, post game equals hard mode.

@Hero-of-WiiU True, I actually think I may have even been stuck at one point in Skyward Sword but it's been years since a Zelda was difficult because of a particular battle or action section. The first couple were brutal!

@Yorumi Yea but I don't like Wifi battling. My first game was Red when I 6, 16 years ago. I was thinking of getting a PS TV in November. I guess since I am 22 Video games just don't play as big of a role anymore.

Also a thing about ALBW. I hated the renting system it wasn't as fun getting the items. I also don't want them to put the items in dungeons either because then it gets too boring. What I want them to do is just sprinkle the items in the overworld. Then you could discover them for yourself but you wouldn't be just buying them. You also wouldn't know which items needed to be used in which dungeons.

@Nintenjoe64 Totally! I loved how the first two games dumped you in a world and gave you not much other than a sword, the onus was totally on you to make the adventure. Zelda is still a top quality series but that feeling of crafting your own story and surviving a brutal world within a certain set of basic rules doesn't exist outside of the souls series, which is probably it's so popular. I think I got stuck on something stupid playing skyward sword because I refused to hear fi anymore and I died once on the last boss fight.

@Nintenjoe64 I'm up for any zelda game remake or new they are awesome games but motion controls unless you're able to turn them off would honestly put a lot of people off myself included it's what has stopped me finishing skyward sword I can't stand waving my arms around I just want to sit back with a controller.

A link to the past remake using the link between worlds engine would be amazing

@ReigningSemtex I'd like them to go a step further and make it look like the 2011 tech demo with optional Skyward Sword controls. SS would have been a much better game if the only tutorial was your uncle giving you a sword and telling you to save Zelda..

@Nintenjoe64 optional SS controls and 2011 tech demo now your talking. Not just zelda but most Nintendo games hold the players hand way too much full of tutorials and silly amount of hints and lives I guess they fear people will be put off by a bit of challenge costing them sales.

"In addition, we have already announced that we are now developing the next title for the orthodox “The Legend of Zelda” series for Wii U, and that it will be an “open world,” as announced at E3. I prefer not to use the generally used term “open world” when developing software, but we used this term in order to make it easier for consumers to understand. This term means that there is a large world in which players can do numerous things daily. In the traditional “The Legend of Zelda” series, the player would play one dungeon at a time. For example, if there are eight dungeons, at the fourth dungeon, some players may think, “I’m already halfway through the game,” while other players may think, “I still have half of the game to play.” We are trying to gradually break down such mechanism and develop a game style in which you can enjoy “The Legend of Zelda” freely in a vast world, whenever you find the time to do so."

For me that translates that "This new Zelda game for the Wii U is basically an Animal Crossing version of Zelda & I'm cool with that. You can just play at your own pace; take in the sights/scenery; visit the different towns as if you are on vacation and help people along your journey." I dig this!

Zelda got stuck in the progression pattern started in A Link to a Past for a long time (3 item quests (that became let's meet the Kokiri, Goron and Zora tribes), master sword, 6-8 dungeons, end boss).

Games like Adventure of Link and Majora's Mask messed with that progression. Majora's Mask shortened it to four main quests and multiple side quests that each had to be completed in a limited amount of time, but also left you largely on your own to figure out different things. The Adventure of Link completely turned the formula on it's head by being a side-scrolling game where you had to put things back into dungeons.

Guys, I love Majora's Mask as the next guy, even more then OOT, but I don't want it remade. It surely will be remade. But am I the only one who wants a proper OOT sequel? MM may be a sequel but IMO it's only related because they're both Zelda games.
Anyways, I think that these games will use the touch feature really well, but I hope not. What I would love though, is a Zelda game that you could complete single player, but you can also go Four Swords style and complete game with 1-4 players. (With online) but if you go with friends the game would be harder, since your with more. With voice chat, it would be so fun. So, basically what I want is another Four Swords. I don't know if I want it in 3D, or top-down though....

@drewb0203 it's kinda off putting especially to someone who enjoys Zelda for the exploration and 'take your time and enjoy the game' vibe, the time feature sets a certain vibe that you have to complete the game fast which could be a turn off to gamers

What the poopsiedoodle is everyone talking about "zelda is becoming cod/mario"? No it's not, lol How do you even get to these really over-dramatic conclusions?

Never the less; I look forward to a new game in the series for the 3DS, and the Wii U zelda reveal brought tears to my eyes, lol Looks amazing. Hyrule Warriors being a spin-off I didn't think much of it but the more I see of it, the more I begin to like the look of it.

That's two main games, one for each console and a spin-off. They're coming out sometime within the next year/few years; I honestly don't think that's a lot. They also seem to be putting more thought and effort into these games than ever before with the numerous statements about how they want to revolutionize the series, etc. My body is ready.

I have a feeling the announced Zelda Wii U game will be the only new, traditional style Zelda console game. WWHD is a remake and DW is a crossover game. They are both solid looking games but their arrival on the system makes me feel like Nintendo is going slow with Zelda Wii U and it's gonna be a late 2015, maybe early 2016 release and it will be the only new Zelda. Fans love Zelda but there are a lot of games out competing against each other now. There are 2 3DS games already and soon to be 2 Wii U games. A third 3DS title would give this current generation of consoles/handhelds 5 Zelda games prior to the main release of Zelda Wii U. Seems like a lot to me.

I hope that the whole "Item renting" system will be eliminated. It made the game feel... I don't know, Unbalanced? I felt like I had to buy all the items at one time. And after I bought all of the items, I felt like i was done with the game.

I think the feeling of "Oh boy a treasure chest! I hope my new item is inside, and not some lame compass" was kinda destroyed in ALBW. Personally, finding a new item in a chest was one of the most exciting parts of any Zelda game.

"a few Zelda titles in development" that sounds wonderful to me! I'd love to see Nintendo take this Hyrule Warriors thing further and develop a Hyrule sub series of LoZ games in co-operation with other third-parties. I'd like to see other third-parties get a chance- under the close supervision of Nintendo- to create 3D and 2D Zelda games.

Did anyone else catch this sentence from Miyamoto? "This term means that there is a large world in which players can do numerous things daily.". Numerous things daily? That sounds interesting. Daily challenges like in a Halo game, maybe?

"This term means that there is a large world in which players can do numerous things daily"

That last word made me curious: Daily! It sounds as if they are planning a quest-system (like some people suggested), maybe with downloadable quests! Everyday new quests. I don't know what to think of this, I just have to wait and see.

I also wonder about the 3DS Zelda: What will it be, and when will we see it? Maybe we get a topdown Majora's mask sequel? I could see that happening!